Piano Audition Requirements

Piano Audition Modality: 
The live piano audition will take place on Friday, February 13, 2026 at Garrison School for the Arts.

Overview
The piano audition consists of two parts. Part 1 is the performance of two prepared pieces and their corresponding scales. Both pieces and scales must be memorized. Part 2 is sight reading.
 
Please carefully read each part of these instructions, as the completion of each part will affect your score. If you have questions, please email at erica.gillette@sccpss.com. Please note: repertoire may not include pieces from movies, popular music, video games or the like.

Part 1: Performance of Prepared Music

Each candidate will perform the following:

• One memorized selection from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Anna Magdalena Notebook. First, perform the scale of the key of that piece: hands together, parallel motion, one octave ascending and descending.
• A second memorized piece that is in a contrasting key, style, and period. First, perform the scale of the key of that piece: hands together, parallel motion, one octave ascending and descending. 
• A note on scales: Compositions in minor keys should use the harmonic minor scale.

Part 2: Sight-Reading 

Each candidate will be asked to sight read a short piece of music. Candidates will have 90 seconds to look over the score. After 90 seconds, candidates will play the sight-reading selection.

Candidates must submit their sheet music for each of their two chosen pieces by Wednesday, February 11, 2026. This needs to be a clear scan/image or hard copy of all pages of each selected song. Please be sure the title, composer, and all music notes are clearly visible. All may be emailed to erica.gillette@sccpss.com or hard copies may be brought to Garrison between the hours of 8:00am - 3:00pm on any school day.

Piano Audition Rubric/Score Sheet

First Composition	Points Earned	Max. Points
Scale		5
Rhythm		5
Memorization		5
Interpretation		5
Articulation		5
Second Composition	Points Earned	Max. Points
Scale		5
Rhythm		5
Memorization		5
Interpretation		5
Articulation		5
Site Reading	Points Earned	Max. Points
Articulation		5
Rhythm		5
Pitch Accuracy		5
Dynamics and Interpretation		5
Overall Impression	Points Earned	Max. Points
Preparedness		10
Technique		10
Etiquette		10
Total	Points Earned	Max. Points
Points Earned out of 100		100

 

FIRST COMPOSITION (Maximum 25 points)

	5 Points	4 Points	3 Points	2 Points	1 Point	Max. Points
Scale	Excellent playing of the appropriate scale with proper fingering, hands together, one octave, in a steady tempo.	Very good playing of the appropriate scale with proper fingering, hands together, one octave, in a steady tempo.	Good playing of the appropriate scale with proper fingering, hands together, one octave, in a steady tempo.	Weak playing of the appropriate scale with proper fingering, hands together, one octave, in a steady tempo.	Poor playing of the appropriate scale with proper fingering, hands together, one octave, in a steady tempo.	5
Rhythm	Excellent observation of rhythmic elements with a steady tempo	Very good observation of rhythmic elements with a steady tempo	Good observation of rhythmic elements with mostly steady tempo	Weak observation of rhythmic elements and/or tempo	Poor observation of rhythmic elements and/or tempo	5
Memorization	Excellent memory work with no stops	Very good memory work with very few stops	Good memory with few stops	Weak memory with several stops	Poor memory work with many stops or inability to complete piece	5
Interpretation	Outstanding execution of all dynamics, agogics and other musical indications	Strong execution of almost all dynamics, agogics, and other musical indications	Satisfactory execution of almost most dynamics, agogics, and other musical indications	Weak execution with observation of only some dynamics, agogics, and other musical indications	Poor execution with observation of few or no dynamics, agogics and/or other musical indications	5
Articulation	Outstanding execution of all articulation markings.	Very good execution of almost all articulation markings.	Good execution of most articulation markings.	Weak execution of very little observation of articulation markings.	Poor execution or zero observation of articulation markings.	5

SECOND COMPOSITION (Maximum 25 points)

	5 Points	4 Points	3 Points	2 Points	1 Point	Max. Points
Scale	Excellent playing of the appropriate scale with proper fingering, hands together, one octave, in a steady tempo.	Very good playing of the appropriate scale with proper fingering, hands together, one octave, in a steady tempo.	Good playing of the appropriate scale with proper fingering, hands together, one octave, in a steady tempo.	Weak playing of the appropriate scale with proper fingering, hands together, one octave, in a steady tempo.	Poor playing of the appropriate scale with proper fingering, hands together, one octave, in a steady tempo.	5
Rhythm	Excellent observation of rhythmic elements with a steady tempo	Very good observation of rhythmic elements with a steady tempo	Good observation of rhythmic elements with mostly steady tempo	Weak observation of rhythmic elements and/or tempo	Poor observation of rhythmic elements and/or tempo	5
Memorization	Excellent memory work with no stops	Very good memory work with very few stops	Good memory with few stops	Weak memory with several stops	Poor memory work with many stops or inability to complete piece	5
Interpretation	Outstanding execution of all dynamics, agogics and other musical indications	Strong execution of almost all dynamics, agogics, and other musical indications	Satisfactory execution of almost most dynamics, agogics, and other musical indications	Weak execution with observation of only some dynamics, agogics, and other musical indications	Poor execution with observation of few or no dynamics, agogics and/or other musical indications	5
Articulation	Outstanding execution of all articulation markings.	Very good execution of almost all articulation markings.	Good execution of most articulation markings.	Weak execution of very little observation of articulation markings.	Poor execution or zero observation of articulation markings.	5

SITE READING (Maximum 20 points)

	5 Points	4 Points	3 Points	2 Points	1 Point	Max. Points
Articulation	Outstanding execution of all articulation markings.	Very good execution of almost all articulation markings.	Good execution of most articulation markings.	Weak execution of very little observation of articulation markings.	Poor execution or zero observation of articulation markings.	5
Rhythm	Excellent observation of rhythmic elements with a steady tempo	Very good observation of rhythmic elements with a steady tempo	Good observation of rhythmic elements with mostly steady tempo	Weak observation of rhythmic elements and/or tempo	Poor observation of rhythmic elements and/or tempo	5
Pitch Accuracy	Excellent execution of all pitches with attention to key and/or accidentals	Very good execution of almost all pitches with attention to key and/or accidentals	Good execution of most pitches	Weak execution of pitches with little or no attention to key and/or accidentals	Poor execution of pitches with no attention to key and/or accidentals	5
Dynamics and Interpretation	Excellent execution of dynamics and other musical indications	Very good execution of dynamics and other musical indications	Good execution of dynamics and other musical indications	Weak execution of dynamics and other musical indications	Poor execution of dynamics and other musical indications	5

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS (Maximum 30 points)

	10 Points	8 Points	6 Points	4 Points	2 Points	Max. Points
Preparedness	Prepared pieces were appropriate per guidelines, and copies of both scores were provided by the submission deadline	Prepared pieces were appropriate per guidelines, but copies of 1 or more scores were provided after the submission deadline	One or more of the pieces did not meet guideline but copies of the scores were provided by the submission deadline	One or more of the pieces did not meet guide lines, but copies of the scores were provided late or not at all	Neither piece was appropriate per guidelines and copies of the scores were not provided in advance of the audition	10
Technique	Outstanding technique (wrist/arm movement, hand shape) and posture	Strong technique (wrist/arm movement, hand shape) and posture	Good technique (wrist/arm movement, hand shape) and posture	Weak technique (wrist/arm movement, hand shape) and posture	Poor technique (wrist/arm movement, hand shape) and posture	10
Etiquette	Excellent poise, musical expression, and evidence of pedagogical practice are present in both compositions and sight reading	Very good poise, musical expression, and evidence of pedagogical practice are present in both compositions and sight reading	Good poise, musical expression, and evidence of pedagogical practice are present in both compositions and sight reading	Weak poise, musical expression, and evidence of pedagogical practice are present in both compositions and sight reading	Poor poise, musical expression, and evidence of pedagogical practice are present in both compositions and sight reading	10